New Chalcone-Derived Molecule for the Topical Regulation of Hyperpigmentation and Skin Aging.

: Skin hyperpigmentation is a biological process that results in an excessive production of melanin and is highly regulated by several mechanisms, tyrosinase being one of the key enzymes involved. Current reported inhibitors lack clinical efficacy, show toxic side effects, have poor bioavailability, or low formulation compatibility. The aim of this study was to design a new effective tyrosinase inhibitor for topical hyperpigmentation and anti-aging treatments.

Portuguese Version of the HLS-EU-Q6 and HLS-EU-Q16 Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties.

Health literacy refers to the competencies of individuals and the general population to navigate all the areas of health care, making health decisions. Health professionals need a set of skills and information to adapt to people's health literacy. To succeed, it is crucial to determine the health literacy level of a population, in this case, the Portuguese.

The Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Substance Use and Mental Health in Portuguese Higher Education Students.

The mental health of higher education students is a constant concern, and the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19 has intensified this concern. The social measures imposed to control and minimize the disease have led, among other things, to the reconfiguration of higher education students' academic life habits, which has naturally altered their emotional balance, mental health, and substance abuse. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study assesses the influence of higher education students' personal characteristics on their (self-reported) use of addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and pharmaceutical drugs) before and during their first compulsory confinement in Portugal, as well as its relationship with mental health.

Depigmenting topical therapy based on a synergistic combination of compounds targeting the key pathways involved in melasma pathophysiology.

Melasma has a complex pathophysiology with different cell types and signalling pathways involved. Paracrine factors secreted by keratinocytes, fibroblasts and endothelial cells act on melanocytes and stimulate melanogenesis. These paracrine factors are involved in the oxidative stress, inflammatory, vascular and hormonal pathways, among others.

Social Media Use and Its Association with Mental Health and Internet Addiction among Portuguese Higher Education Students during COVID-19 Confinement.

The use of social media was one of the most common way to keep in touch with friends and family during confinement. For higher education students, the fact that their universities were closed was a major change in their lives. The aim of this study is to relate the prevalence and type of social media with Internet addiction and mental health of university students in a district of Portugal during COVID-19 confinement.

Literacy and Mental Health of Portuguese Higher Education Students and Their Use of Health Promotion Strategies during Confinement in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The pandemic of COVID-19 caused significant changes in economies and societies with a major impact on the entire education process. However, these changes did not invalidate a constant effort of adaptation. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study used an online questionnaire administered to students from various study cycles at higher education institutions in Portugal, with the aim of exploring the influence of literacy and mental health on the use of mental health promotion strategies during COVID-19 confinement.

Association Between Food Choices Motivators and Physical Activity in Body Image (dis)Satisfaction in Portuguese Adolescents.

Concerns about weight and body image are common among adolescents since they are particularly vulnerable to body-image dissatisfaction due to the normal physiological, social, and psychological changes they are going through. This study aims to analyse the relationship between food choice motivations and physical activity in body-image perception among adolescents. Twelve to sixteen years old adolescents were recruited from three school districts.

Controlled trial of an mHealth intervention to promote healthy behaviours in adolescence (TeenPower): Effectiveness analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness on lifestyle change of an mHealth intervention to promote healthy behaviours in adolescence (TeenPower) and to analyse the predictors of the mHealth intervention effectiveness.

Design: This study is designed as a non-randomized controlled trial with a two-arm structure.

Methods: Adolescents of 12-16-year old were recruited from three school districts, with access to the Internet and smartphone/tablet devices.

Association of rs712 polymorphism in a let-7 microRNA-binding site of gene with colorectal cancer in a Mexican population.

Objectives: The rs712 polymorphism in a let-7 microRNA-binding site at gene has been associated with cancer. To examine its association with rs712 polymorphism, we analyzed Mexican individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) and healthy subjects.

Materials And Methods: Genotyping of the rs712 polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction in 281 controls and 336 CRC patients.

An mHealth intervention programme to promote healthy behaviours and prevent adolescent obesity (TeenPower): A study protocol.

Aim: This paper describes the design and rationale of multicenter practice-based research that aims to develop and evaluate an innovative mobile health (mHealth) intervention programme directed to promote healthy behaviours and prevent adolescent obesity.

Design: This study is designed as a non-randomized controlled trial with a three-arm structure.

Methods: Twelve to 16 years old participants will be recruited from schools, with access to the Internet and smartphone/tablet devices.

study of the effect of an essential oil and a delmopinol mouth rinse on dental plaque bacteria.

Context: Mouthrinses are used, by many of our patients, as a complement to daily dental hygiene routine. The use of a toothbrush and an interproximal cleaning method may not be enough to control dental plaque. Essential oils and delmopinol mouth rinses are effective for the prevention of dental caries and gingivitis.

Effects of emerging contaminants on neurotransmission and biotransformation in marine organisms - An in vitro approach.

The effects of gold (ionic form and nanoparticles - AuNPs) and pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine and fluoxetine) on enzymes involved in neurotransmission (acetylcholinesterase - AChE) and biotransformation (glutathione S-transferases - GST) were assessed by their incubation with Mytilus galloprovincialis' hemolymph and subcellular fraction of gills, respectively. AuNPs did not alter enzymatic activities unlike ionic gold that inhibited AChE and GST activities at 2.5 and 0.

Does the presence of microplastics influence the acute toxicity of chromium(VI) to early juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps)? A study with juveniles from two wild estuarine populations.

Toxicological interactions between microplastics (MP) and other environmental contaminants are of grave concern. Here, the potential influence of MP in the short-term toxicity of chromium to early juveniles of Pomatoschistus microps was investigated. Three null hypotheses were tested: (1) exposure to Cr(VI) concentrations in the low ppm range does not induce toxic effects on juveniles; (2) the presence of microplastics in the water does not influence the acute toxicity of Cr(VI) to juveniles; (3) the environmental conditions of the natural habitat where fish developed do not influence their sensitivity to Cr(VI)-induced acute stress.

Effects of microplastics on juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps): confusion with prey, reduction of the predatory performance and efficiency, and possible influence of developmental conditions.

Microplastics (MP) are ubiquitous contaminants able to cause adverse effects on organisms. Three hypotheses were tested here: early Pomatoschistus microps juveniles can ingest MP; the presence of MP may reduce fish predatory performance and efficiency; developmental conditions may influence the preyselection capability of fish. Predatory bioassays were carried out with juveniles from two estuaries with differences in environmental conditions: Minho (M-est) and Lima (L-est) Rivers (NW Iberian coast).

Comparative analyses of the β-tubulin gene and molecular modeling reveal molecular insight into the colchicine resistance in kinetoplastids organisms.

Differential susceptibility to microtubule agents has been demonstrated between mammalian cells and kinetoplastid organisms such as Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp. The aims of this study were to identify and characterize the architecture of the putative colchicine binding site of Leishmania spp.

Short-term toxic effects of naphthalene and pyrene on the common prawn (Palaemon serratus) assessed by a multi-parameter laboratorial approach: mechanisms of toxicity and impairment of individual fitness.

The short-term (96 h) toxic effects of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), naphthalene (NAP) and pyrene (PYR), on the common prawn (Palaemon serratus) were investigated in laboratory bioassays, including a fitness related assay based on the post-exposure swimming velocity. Other effect criteria were biomarkers of neurotoxicity, oxidative stress and bioenergetics, and mortality. In the range of concentrations tested (NAP: 0.

Molecular markers for species identification in the Leishmania subgenus Viannia.

We have previously identified a novel genomic sequence of 500 bp, the beta 500-DNA sequence, in the subgenus Leishmania (Viannia). This sequence was localized upstream of the beta-tubulin gene. Restriction fragment length polymorphism and hybridization analysis has shown that the beta 500-DNA sequence is specific to this subgenus.